Diversity, equality & inclusion

Chartered Accountants Ireland was proud to host the launch of Dublin City University Access to the Workplace 2025 in Chartered Accountants House on Pearse Street this week. Now in its sixth year, this award-winning programme provides professional summer internships for DCU Access students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and for neurodivergent students. The launch event, Beyond Bias: Unlocking Future Talent, explored how organisations can develop a workforce that is diverse, inclusive and ready to embrace the possibilities of an unscripted future. Commenting Barry Doyle said  “We are proud partners of this programme and fully support the work DCU do in the area of recognising and supporting those whose potential might otherwise have been overlooked. By opening doors to these talents, DCU and their corporate partners are helping to level the playing field, broaden perspectives, and build a workforce that truly reflects the diversity of Ireland’s future. This event not only shines a spotlight on this hugely impactful initiative but also reaffirms our collective commitment to diversity, inclusion, and innovation in the workplace.”

From the impact of AI to what sport can teach us about making real change in communities, Chartered Star 2024 Evan O’Donnell shares his insights from the One Young World Summit in Montreal. Below, Evan discusses the energy and impact of the four-day youth leadership conference, his key take-aways and how he plans to put them to use going forward. In September, I had the honour to attend the One Young World Summit, "the world's biggest and most impactful youth leadership summit", in the vibrant city of Montréal, Canada. I was extremely proud to represent the chartered accountant profession, the country of Éire and Chartered Accountants Ireland throughout this four-day conference, along with my fellow delegates from Scotland and South Africa, all under the Chartered Accountants Worldwide banner. One Young World united over 250 organisations and over 2,000 young leaders each hoping to gain invaluable insights and work together to help shape the world's future. This year focused on five key global challenges; Indigenous Voices, Climate and Ecological Crisis, Artificial Intelligence, Health Inequality, and Peace and with each speech, workshop and story shared, the urgent need for change was highlighted. The opening ceremony was packed with energy and theatre, but the real highlight was hearing from incredible world activists. Two messages stood out: environmentalist, David Suzuki, who advised “Let’s open both eyes” and also from novelist, ‎Margaret Atwood who encouraged us, simply but profoundly, to “Go for it.” I had the honour of being flag bearer for Ireland, proudly waving my national flag on an international stage alongside representatives of 197 other nations. It was a joy to spend the day with my fellow flag bearers, exchanging our traditional customs, cultural stories and discovering both commonalities and differences within our communities. The other Chartered Accountants Worldwide delegates and I had insightful conversations with people from all over the world, spanning from Ireland to Iran to Texas, Czech Republic and France. Sport and leadership The energy continued as I joined 20 other delegates to participate in Jamad Fiin’s One Young World basketball camp. Fiin runs basketball camps around the world - inspiring the next generation, particularly young women, to stay active and embrace their love of sport. The session proved a perfect way to put teamwork into action, and we learned just how effective communication can elevate performance. This message was echoed throughout the conference but particularly at a standout panel discussion featuring athletes across the sports of rugby, basketball and swimming. Tendai Mtawarira, Jamad Fiin and Ma­­rk Tewksbury shared how they’re leveraging sport as a powerful agent for social change - an inspiring reminder of how sports can unite and empower communities. Artificial Intelligence Artificial Intelligence was at the forefront of many discussions, with numerous insightful perspectives offered. The ESG team from KPMG discussed the profound impact AI will have on humanity and explored just how much it can serve as a tool for good - when ethics and purpose are at the heart of innovation. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau also broached the subject, discussing his perspective on the 'pivot generation'. As the last generation to experience life before AI, we have a unique opportunity to shape its future. Trudeau emphasised the importance of working together to ensure we harness AI to create positive, global change. Nobel Peace Prize winner, Maria Ressa, shed light on AI’s security risks and challenges, reminding us all to stay vigilant in the face of technological advancements. It would be impossible to accurately summarise all the highlights and learnings across the four days. Still, apart from all mentioned above, two stand-outs were a workshop on inclusive learning, which focused on the importance of making education accessible to every young person, regardless of their background and a discussion from the Zurich Foundation on how economic prosperity can pave the way to peace. If I was pressed to summarise what will stay with me? It would be the phrase echoed across everything that One Young World encapsulates - Collaboration has proven essential for long lasting impact. What next? The closing ceremony, an event just as colourful, inspiring and energising as all that had come before, offered a moment to reflect, with delegates invited to write a singular goal for the upcoming year on a ribbon. These ribbons were joined together to symbolise how goals are achieved when aligned with great unity. To quote the famous phrase, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." This experience has opened many pathways, put me in contact with inspiring individuals and given me a wider platform to spread the knowledge gained. I feel proud to be part of an Institute that shares my commitment to protecting the future of our world and I welcome many more opportunities to bring my shared learnings to the broader chartered community.

To mark World Menopause Day (Friday 18 October) this week, the Thrive Wellbeing Hub explores the often overlooked and turbulent time in a woman’s life and the effects menopause can have on our emotional wellbeing.   Menopause and the preceding years are a significant life transition for any woman, whether it is part of the natural aging process or on-set by illness or medical treatment. Changes in our hormones bring about many physical changes and while menopause isn’t a mental health condition it can indeed affect your mental health or can often make existing mental health conditions worse. As a result of menopause, you may experience feelings of anxiety, stress, or depression, and many menopausal symptoms are intrinsically linked to how we feel or affect how we feel about ourselves, these include; Anger and irritability Forgetfulness Poor concentration Low mood and feelings of sadness Anxiety Loss of confidence and self-esteem or loss of self Difficulty sleeping Weight fluctuations These symptoms are a result of changes in the body and can have a big impact on your life. While some aren’t considered menopause symptoms, many women experience these effects. However, if you know what to expect, and why you are experiencing these feelings, it can help you make an informed decision on what to do to manage your mental health during this time.   In 2021, the Athlone Institute of Technology carried out a study on the experiences and health behaviours of menopausal women in Ireland. Interestingly, a key finding from the report was that the majority (77%) of women felt they were unprepared for menopause. When asked where they received information from, family (3%) and friends (6%) were not common information sources, demonstrating how menopause and the experiences associated are not discussed among peers.   Historically menopause has often been overlooked, underestimated, and simply not talked about enough but it is a natural part of the aging process and something all women will go through which is half the Irish population. Therefore, menopause can also be an extremely isolating and frustrating time. Friends and family may not understand or relate to what you are going through or be able to support you in the way you need.  It is also a time in a woman’s life when other life stressors and major events are taking place such as working full time, in busy and stressful seniority positions, caring for children, dealing with ageing parents and navigating other life transitions. Alleviating the emotional toll of menopause The impact of the hormonal changes that take place in the lead-up to menopause can be stressful, unfamiliar, and confusing. While some women will require medical intervention, for many healthy and positive lifestyle habits can ease many of the symptoms, help protect your mental wellbeing and alleviate the emotional toll experienced at this turbulent time.   Be aware of the symptoms and associated emotions that may accompany menopause as it helps you explain mood changes you may be experiencing.   Monitor your mood and note any patterns. Are you feeling irritable because you had difficulty sleeping? Do feelings of anxiety correlate with stress levels, poor concentration or brain fog? If these symptoms become severe and interfere with your daily life and relationships, seek help. Incorporate good lifestyle habits such as increasing exercise, eating well, getting plenty of rest and adequate sleep, and engaging in relaxing activities to help control stress and reduce potential symptoms. Reach out to others. It is important to not struggle alone. As we have detailed, many don’t share their menopause experience with peers and family but creating an open dialogue around menopause is important for peer-to-peer information sharing and confirming you are not alone and that many others have gone or are going through the same. Seek out workplace supports. Many women report that their work performance and availability are affected by menopause issues which can contribute to already heightened stress and anxiety levels. Thankfully, it is now much more commonplace for companies to implement menopause policies due to the challenges women face as they cope with symptoms. For example, Chartered Accountants Ireland developed its own menopause policy aimed at supporting employees coping with challenges arising from the menopause.  As part of the policy, training was provided to tackle the discourse, flexible working arrangements were implemented as well as other accommodations such as welfare rooms, appropriate workplace equipment and occupational health provisions. And remember, it's temporary. The menopausal transition is just that a transition and it isn’t permanent. It is important to remember that the dip in mental wellness and unpleasant symptoms in this period of life won't last forever and will ease with time. If menopause is affecting you or a loved one’s emotional wellbeing, please remember the Thrive Wellbeing Hub is here to support you, whether that’s help devising a self-care plan, dispensing advice, or being the confidant and support system you need.